Kris Srikkanth Criticizes Team Management for Handling of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Former Indian cricket captain Kris Srikkanth has voiced his strong disapproval of skipper Shreyas Iyer and the team management regarding their treatment of rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the recently completed tour of the United Kingdom. Srikkanth was particularly upset with Iyer’s defense of the decision to bench the 15-year-old prodigy for the final T20I against England in Southampton.
In a recent episode of his YouTube show, Srikkanth expressed his disappointment with Iyer’s comments made at the toss, prior to India’s 56-run defeat, which resulted in a 4-0 series loss to England. He highlighted Iyer’s rationale for dropping Sooryavanshi, who previously became India’s youngest-ever international player at just 15 years and 99 days old, in favor of a returning Sanju Samson.
Iyer stated at the toss, “I feel this is the time we need to try what’s the best going forward for us as a team.” However, the decision backfired as India’s bowlers struggled, allowing a staggering 257 runs, largely due to an impressive 131 by England’s captain, Jos Buttler. In response, Samson, who had been dropped earlier in the series, scored only 27 runs in his brief stint.
Srikkanth was particularly critical of Iyer’s approach, saying, “I was upset after hearing the interview,” and emphasized the importance of how players are treated and developed within the team. He expressed frustration over Iyer’s comments about dropping underperforming players, pointing out that the same standards should apply to the leadership.
“What wrong did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi do? Is this how we should nurture young talent?” he questioned. Sooryavanshi had made headlines with his outstanding IPL 2026 performance, becoming the youngest Orange Cap winner by scoring 776 runs. Although he showed glimpses of his talent during the series in England, he struggled with scores of 14, 13, and 15, often falling to England bowler Jofra Archer.
Srikkanth also drew a parallel with his own experience, recalling how he gave a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar his debut in a challenging tour of Pakistan in 1989, ensuring the young player felt supported. He criticized the current leadership for not extending the same confidence to Sooryavanshi. “You are ruining his confidence; you should give him a chance to play fearlessly,” he stated.
The tour was marked by inconsistency, with India suffering defeats in both Ireland and England, raising questions about the team’s selection strategy. Despite his earlier success, Samson was excluded from the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, replaced by newcomer Prabhsimran Singh as the backup wicketkeeper.
As the coaching staff continues to make abrupt changes, concerns grow over the lack of stability and direction in the team’s approach, particularly regarding young players like Sooryavanshi.
